With only one winery, the Lime Kiln Valley AVA was granted its status in 1982, on petition from Enz Vineyards. A sub-region of Cienega Valley, this small appellation covers only 2,300 acres of land, with about 100 acres devoted to vineyards. Distinguished by predominantly sandy, gravelly loam, above dolomite and limestone, the AVA basks in warm summer temperatures of 85-95 degrees, with a large diurnal variation of up to 50 degrees. Though Lime Kiln is not a household name, it has occasionally been used on wine labels, notably an old vines’ Mouvedre, made by the Paso Robles-based Wild Horse Winery & Vineyards.